BENARTY Primary School's defibrillator campaign has been a huge success.

The Parent/School Council organised a coffee morning before the end of term and they had hoped it would be busy.

Well, it turned out to be a 'pack out' and raised the amazing sum of £1,400.

Said the PSC's Maggie Bell: "It really was a brilliant day with tremendous support from the community and businesses."

The situation of defibrillators in schools came to light in the Benarty area in December 2017 when then chairman of the Community Council, Stephen Nardone, collapsed at an event at St Kenneth's Primary in Ballingry.

With no defib in the school Stephen was given CPR by people who were at the event until an ambulance arrived and he is convinced that, and the work of the ambulance team, saved his life.

So he has been keen to see defibs at both St Kenneth's and Benarty and has been promoting the campaign and was delighted to go along and support the coffee morning venture.

Added Maggie: "We really did not know how successful the day was going to be, although the support from the business community saw us have some marvellous raffle prizes.

"Within a an hour of the doors opening we were really busy and it turned into a fantastic day with an incredible turn out of parents and other relatives.

"Councillors Linda Erskine, Lea McLelland, Rosemary Liewald and Mary Lockhart were there and Linda supplied some lovely home baking.

"Indeed, the amount of baking people brought was excellent and it all added up a brilliant event."

The whole day raised £1,400 and the Parent/School Council hope to have the defibrillator in the school by early in the summer term.

Concluded Maggie: "We would like to thank everyone who supported the day and Stephen for his backing, it will be excellent to have this lifesaving piece of equipment at the school within a matter of a few weeks."